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Journal article

Genes and environment in multiple sclerosis: impact of temporal changes in the sex ratio on recurrence risks

Abstract:

Objective:
To evaluate the impact of temporal increase of female to male (F:M) sex ratio for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) on the familial risk (empiric recurrence risks or RRs) for biological relatives of affected individuals.
Methods:
Detailed family histories were systematically obtained from people with MS attending the University of British Columbia Hospital MS Clinic. The study cohort was born in 1970 or more recently. Data were collected from 1 September 2015 to 31 January 2019. The study was designed to allow only one proband per family. Age-corrected RRs for biological relatives of probands were calculated based on a modification of the maximum-likelihood approach.
Results:
Data analyses were possible for 746 unique probands (531 females; 215 males) and 19,585 of their biological relatives. RRs were temporally impacted.
Conclusion:
Both genetic sharing and environmental factors are important in determining RRs. It appears that there is an increase in MS risk due to environmental factors in later life (i.e. not shared family environment). Environmental exposures in genetically predisposed individuals might be driving the MS risk. The increase in F:M ratio of RRs for sisters/brothers of female probands over time is likely due to environmental differences.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1177/13524585211020221

Authors


More by this author
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-2987-2008
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Clinical Neurosciences
Oxford college:
Merton College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0342-5197


Publisher:
SAGE Publications
Journal:
Multiple Sclerosis More from this journal
Volume:
28
Issue:
3
Pages:
359-368
Publication date:
2021-06-08
Acceptance date:
2021-05-06
DOI:
EISSN:
1477-0970
ISSN:
1352-4585
Pmid:
34100315


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1182696
Local pid:
pubs:1182696
Deposit date:
2021-06-20

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